by Lora Darc
The Nightlands Book 2
Servant of the Night Lords
Copyright © 2019 Lora Darc
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including, but not limited to, photocopying or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing by the author.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, locales and events are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, places or events are purely coincidental.
Cover by Lora Darc
Stock Photos: Depositphotos
Chapter 1
Danielle stopped on the bank of a grassy hill. She looked over the desert-plains, in the direction she could only deem as North. In the distance, and by the light of the moon, the peaks of mountains spiked out of the horizon like two jagged teeth.
With a heavy breath, Danielle continued toward the black peaks. She trod onward with clumsy steps, watching a storm pass just a few miles to the East.
Danielle was hungry and weak, but she didn‘t pause for too long. She knew the five princes of the Nightlands still searched for her.
She’d seen the shadow of the vampire and the crow prince circling above a few times. Each time she’d stop and try to bury herself in the sands. She waited for them to capture her but, each time they passed by, they would fly onward, never to circle back toward her. She would continue to go unseen.
Though time moved differently and the night sky never changed, Danielle learned the moon’s cycle as it changed every few hours while making its way across the sky. She judged these to be like short days.
Judging by that logic she calculated that she had been traversing the desert for nearly a day and a half. More than half of the time was spent sleeping as she tried to regain her strength. At times while she walked she came upon long patches of grass and when she was lucky, she found small pools of water. She would sip from the pools carefully hoping it wasn’t poisonous to her body. She had no knowledge or foresight of the Nightlands and, for all she knew, everything was a deadly threat. She learned the hard way when she tried to chew on some long grass by the pool and promptly threw it up not an hour later. Her hunger then only grew worse.
When she couldn’t find water or food she made do by trying to save as much energy as possible. She would lie on the sands for a few hours, dozing in and out, watching for any signs of movement in case she needed to hide or bolt. She felt like a lone rabbit caught in a world full of ravenous wolves. She jerked and jumped at every sound and at every shadow that passed near her. When she was too tired to watch for danger, she would fall back and sleep for an hour or two; only to wake later and sit up in alarm, wondering where she was.
When she slept, she dreamed vivid dreams.
She dreamed of the princes. Of their large, hard bodies on top of hers. She grew wet at the thought, little spasms sparking below her belly and between her legs. She saw the crow prince slicing her soft skin, the vampire prince licking the wound after. The fish prince caressed her and the spider prince stroked her center.
Then Prince Morgin’s face would come into view. He would watch with lustful, burning eyes and an evil grin.
“My precious little pet,” he’d purr. Then he would laugh. “Come for me. Come and let us hear your lovely cry.”
And in the dream she did. And he watched with satisfaction. The climax was so intense it woke her from sleep and she could feel the wet heat between her legs. She would moan as she sat up, grinding her thighs together. Sometimes she was able to stand up and keep walking despite the soreness, but other times she couldn’t fight the need and would sprawl out on the ground and pleasure herself. When she came she saw the princes again. She saw Prince Morgin.
Her own touch seemed weak compared to what the princes had given her in the palace. Her orgasms not as intense, not as body shattering. But they relieved her for a short while, until the dreams set on her again.
She grew hot with guilt at the dreams. Wondering even if she was under some spell. But deep down she knew, as terrifying as it was, that what had happened in the palace was beyond anything she had ever felt. The memory of such pleasure at the hands of the monstrous princes would stick with her for the rest of her days.
When her body throbbed with want and the dreams sparked her imagination she even admitted to herself that she longed to feel their touch again.
But it was not enough to make her go back. Not yet. She still feared their punishment; their rage. She feared they would hold her from such pleasure; torture her by not giving it. Perhaps even hurt her. And she feared the things a certain prince who had not had his turn with her would do.
No. She had to keep going. To find a way out before the need consumed her. When she saw the mountains in the distance, it was the only thing besides the palace that indicated anything beyond the desert. So it was to the black peaks that she tread onward.
When the black mountains loomed closer, the ground beneath her grew greener. More pools emerged and blue insects fluttered and bounced against her. Danielle could hear the soft chirping of crickets and the humming of frogs. When she stepped into a patch of long grass, the ground partially sunk.
The desert-plain had become a swamp.
Danielle trudged through the patches of grass and mud. Steam rose from the ground in certain areas. Warm mud stuck to her legs and arms as she slugged through deeper pools of muck.
Danielle grew tired quick. When the thick, muddy water rose to her waist she slowed, then stopped, using what strength she had left to climb out onto a solid mound. The swamp pulled her down deeper, however, and—with growing alarm—Danielle realized she was stuck.
Frantic, Danielle grappled for some long grass along the mound. Snagging some, she attempted to pull and claw up the mound. Arms shaking, she rose a little, but her strength gave and she sank back down.
Danielle cried out in frustrated defeat. Breathing heavily, she lay her head against the mound. Clenching her fists, she felt tears spill down her face.
She couldn’t die here. Not after everything she had gone through. She had to keep going, had to keep trying.
But it didn’t matter how she felt or what she thought. Her body was spent and would not move anymore.
Maybe this is for the best, she thought. Better to die here then be torn and devoured by some cold-hearted monster.
After all, she had no other plan once she hit the mountains. Only to climb and hope to see something in the distance. If the climb didn’t kill her before she could make it to the top.
Danielle closed her eyes and tried to control her breathing. Maybe if she fell asleep, her death would be painless.
The sounds of the swamp soothed her a bit and Danielle began to relax. She fell into a half slumber when a howl broke through the dark.
Her eyes shot open and Danielle jerked her head up. In the distance she saw a glowing lantern bobbing about through the steam and the shape of a giant dog, sniffing and creeping through the grass.
The dog drew near and Danielle instinctively thought to hide. She squirmed in the mud and considered dunking herself fully down into it when she heard the soft pants of the dog trotting close to her. The dog sniffed at her and Danielle tensed, waiting to feel its jaws clamp around her neck. Instead, it howled again and barked, a loud, deep sound, up into the night sky.
The lantern turned and swung, growing brighter. As it grew closer, its light washed over the ground and bounced off the dog, revealing its shaggy black and grey fur and pointed ears. It pointed its nose down to Danielle and whined, digging at the mound.
The lantern stopped in front of Danielle and she
tried to raise her head to see who or what it was. All she could make out was a shrouded, faceless figure.
“Got yourself stuck did you?” came a croak from under the shroud. “Rare to see a human alive and roaming free in the Nightlands…”
Danielle shivered but did not respond. The figure put its lantern on the ground before her and rolled up its sleeves. Danielle got the sight of long, manicured claws, tinted white, and a smooth luminous hand. The hand grabbed hold of her arm and pulled hard. Danielle gasped as she was dragged from the pool. She curled up into a ball, hugging herself, waiting to see what the figure would do.
The figure placed its sleek hand on her shoulder. “Will be rough traveling with Grigor carrying you. Best for you to sleep…”
When the figure spoke the last word, it squeezed her shoulder and Danielle felt herself fall back into the deepest sleep she had yet to encounter since her flight through the desert.
Chapter 2
When Danielle woke up the first thing she saw was the great dog’s head looking down at her, its big green eyes watching her curiously. Danielle’s first thought was to scream, but she swallowed it down and clamped her mouth shut as the dog licked her face. She grimaced and turned her face away, nearly rolling off the small bed.
“Enough, Grigor, foolish hound.” A hand swatted at the dog and the large beast turned away to sit on a pillow in the room’s corner, near a glowing red stove. Danielle looked up at the hand’s owner and gasped in surprise. A lovely young woman with light, blue-grey skin and full black eyes loomed over her. Her hair was cut short like a man’s, ears shaped to a delicate point, face slender with a long neck. She wore a shabby black rope with a netted scarf and a thick belt at her waist showing off her slender, pixy-like form. She picked up a wet cloth beside the bed and carefully blotted at Danielle’s face.
“Who are you?” Danielle whispered as she turned her head away.
“My name is Sheek. Witch of the grass swamps.” Sheek put the cloth away and sat beside Danielle. Danielle sat up and looked down to see she was clean and fully clothed, wearing a light grey dress with little holes and tears.
“Afraid that’s all I had available at the moment,” Sheek said as she saw Danielle looking at the cloth. “Don’t get very many female visitors… Not many visitors at all, actually.” Sheek leaned in close and Danielle leaned away. The witch took hold of Danielle’s jaw in a firm grip and turned her head to each side. She poked and prodded at her and Danielle slapped her hand away.
“What do you want with me?” Danielle asked.
Sheek caught her gaze with surprise. “Oh, forgive me. I have not seen a real human before. Only in stories. Most coming from the palace. None, from what I have heard, ever made it out of there alive.”
Danielle looked away and bowed her head. Her hands gripped the bedsheets under her. Her eyes turned glassy as she remembered what she endured in the palace. A dull ache throbbed lightly between her legs at the memory and she clamped her legs together.
The witch observed her curiously and seemed to nod as if she understood. “Ah, that explains it. You are the first human woman to enter there.” Sheek laughed lightly, “The princes had other ideas for you didn’t they?”
Danielle frowned. “Yes…”
“And they look for you still? They have not finished with you?”
Danielle nodded. “I escaped them and that angered them. Now they are searching for me.”
Sheek leaned back. “My that is something…”
Danielle turned toward her. “Please… if they take me, I don’t know what they’ll do. But I know I will be punished.”
Sheek saw her shaking and her expression softened. She drew forward again and placed her hand on Danielle’s. “You are afraid. But you shouldn’t be.” Sheek got up and went over to a nearby shelf that was cluttered with half-filled bottles and books. The room was filled with different cupboards and shelves. Maps hung on the walls and odd strings of colorful crystals and animal bones dangled from the ceiling.
“Why shouldn’t I be?” Danielle asked as she stared around the room.
Sheek dug through a drawer of glass bottles. “It is the princes alone who search for you? Not their servants?”
“Yes. I saw them,” Danielle said.
“Who among them commanded them to?”
Danielle arched a brow at the strange question. “Um... it was Prince Morgin. He has—”
Sheek shot up from her searching to look at Danielle with shock. “Prince Morgin?” she whispered, stunned. “Prince Morgin seeks you? By the dark gods…”
Danielle crossed her arms as a shiver ran through her. “Should I not be afraid still?”
“Aha!” Sheek took out a slender crystal vile. She shut the drawer then took a narrow dagger off the shelf along with a piece of thin rope.
“What are you doing?” Danielle tensed, her eyes darting toward the door near the end of the room.
“A deal.” Sheek placed the items on a table close by. “The princes don’t yet know where you are or they would have stormed this place by now. I can’t give you the means to fight them. But I can put your fears at ease. For a price…”
Danielle pushed back against the headboard of the bed. “I don’t understand.”
Sheek clasped Danielle’s hands. Danielle tried to pull away but the witch’s grip was strong. “You should not be afraid because what is happening to you is an honor.”
Danielle looked at the witch as if she were truly mad. She couldn’t help laughing a little at the insanity of her words. “You’re joking. You’re crazy!”
Sheek shook her head. “No, girl. I tell the truth. In your world pain and pleasure are separate entities, are they not? But here they are one and the same. The prince’s punishment would not be to kill you. But to make you theirs, to explore more of this pain and pleasure with you. To be pursued and wanted by them. My, that is every nightwoman’s dream.”
“Well, it’s not mine!” Danielle snapped. She tugged her hands away and scrambled from the bed.
“I do not think that is true... I think you are only afraid of the overwhelming desire that chases you,” Sheek said softly. Danielle backed away toward the door. “But I can make the fear go away. I can give you power even. Nothing really impressive at first, mind you, but you could become stronger.”
Danielle, almost to the door, stopped at her words. “What do you mean?”
Sheek smiled. “You are a defenseless thing and I pity you. In this world, without power, you would be eaten alive. You would not last long with a nightman, especially not the princes if they had full power over you. Yet, somehow you escaped them. You are strong, but still very weak.” Sheek got up and approached her. She grazed a slender finger across Danielle’s cheek. “I would envy you. To be in your position. But not without power.”
Sheek went over to a section of books and plucked one from the shelf. She flipped through the pages, stopped at a section, and tapped it with her sharp finger. “You have no natural weapon, no claws or wings; no fins or spikes. No natural power like I. But you do have one asset. The female form and its function.” Sheek turned the book toward Danielle and she saw the picture of a sensual-looking woman, beautiful and lustful, riding on top of a faceless male form.
Danielle shook her head and frowned. “You want to make me better in bed?”
Sheek laughed. “Ah, much more than that! You will be a temptress. Nightmen, and even women, will fall to their knees at your slightest seduction. You will not be afraid but wanting. Pain will only be pleasure in your eyes.”
Pain into pleasure… The crow prince’s word whispered in her head.
“Like the wine,” Danielle spoke aloud. Sheek lowered the book.
“Ah, so that’s how you made it through,” Sheek said. “One of them gave you a cup of Moonwine.”
Danielle nodded. “It didn’t make me drunk. Only made the pain feel…”
“Feel wonderful,” Sheek smiled. “Yes. I can make it so you feel that again. You
will be able to endure whatever the princes ask of you. Their punishment will be a delight.”
“And... what do you want in return?”
Sheek took up the dagger and pointed it at Danielle. “A lock of hair and some blood will do. I may never get this chance again. I can make powerful spells with such things.”
Danielle paled and backed away. “With my hair? And blood?”
Sheek shrugged. “Well, I could use every part of you. Cut you up and snap your bones. But now that I know the princes pursue you... I would rather not feel their wrath.”
Sheek stepped closer, the dagger pointed at Danielle’s throat. “So I am giving you an ultimatum, girl. Be thankful I give you this offer at all. I do it not for you, but for the princes. Surely they will be delighted to know their pet will be strong enough to serve them in any way they like. And perhaps they will reward me after. Once I give you to them.”
Danielle thought to bolt for the door but she stilled. If she gave the witch what she desired, she, in turn, would be given the means to face the princes herself… when she was ready to.
For now, nothing would work better than a good lie.
“There’s no need then,” Danielle said. “I will give those things to you in return for the power you’ve mentioned… then I will go back myself.”
Sheek lowered the dagger. “You will return of your own choosing?”
Danielle nodded, hoping the witch didn’t see through her white lie. “I don’t think I could fight you or them if I tried. And I already almost died trying to flee from them. If not for you saving me…” Danielle breathed out slowly then stepped closer to Sheek. “Please, help me.”
Sheek locked eyes with her for a long moment then grinned. “I shall do what I can.”
***
Sheek dragged the large metal tub to the center of the room while Danielle sat and watched, nibbling on a loaf of bread and sipping clean water. The witch had made a large circular symbol with chalk on the floorboards and placed the tub directly on top. She took several bottles filled with strange liquids off the shelves and poured them into the tub while glancing every so often at her book. She whispered a few incantations and the tub began to bubble and steam.
